Clarification from the agency

Open to Current, Permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees only.

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The incumbent is expected to perform the full range of Echocardiograph duties that includes but are not limited to the following:

• Completes an assessment of the cardiovascular system, normal variants and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular disease processes and instantaneously recognizes those variations; i.e. cardiomyopathies, valvular heart disease and congenital abnormalities.
• Provides Doppler information of peripheral vessels; demonstrates characteristic differences related to the organs they supply; accurately quantify carotid artery stenosis; and identify and correlate specific waveform analysis, plethysmographic tracings, velocity changes, and pressure gradients characteristic of normal, obstructed, or occluded vessels or grafts.
• Performs intracranial (transcranial) vascular examinations.
• Performs and demonstrates competence in upper/lower venous studies, venous reflux studies, upper/lower arterial studies, upper/lower arterial duplex studies, carotid ultrasounds and upper/lower venous vein mapping.
• Provides preliminary findings; i.e. abnormal enlarged lymph nodes, bakers cyst, aneurysm during performance of upper/lower extremity venous duplex studies.
• Operates the instruments to extract the highest quality image utilizing the appropriate transducer frequency, Doppler angle, focal zones, gain, depth, color map, wall filter, and sample volume.
• Performs B-mode and M-mode scanning, duplex imaging, Doppler spectral analysis, photo plethysmography, and upper and lower extremity, digit, and pensile blood pressures.
• Provides objective data to document progression or regression of disease.
• Sets up and adjusts the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of each specific examination and each individual patient to obtain diagnostic quality images.
• Sets up, cleans up and scans complete Transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE) in all acoustic windows with 2D real-time imaging, M-Mode, Color flow Doppler, Pulse wave Doppler, Continuous wave Doppler, Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and Left ventricular opacification (LVO). Skills and ability to use 3D imaging modes for transthoracic echocardiograms.
• Sets up and assists Cardiologists in performing complete Transesophageal biplane echocardiograms (TEE) to visualize all cardiac structures with 2D real time imaging, M-mode, color flow, pulse wave, continuous wave dopplers, and 3D imaging modes.
• Performs post processing of 2D images both on the cardiac ultrasound machine (on cart) and the 2D reading station software (off cart).
• Recognizes and responds to life threatening echocardiogram and vascular findings, i.e. cardiac tamponade and deep vein thrombosis (DVT); and identification with history of pulmonary embolism with new onset of shortness of breath; offering cardiac ultrasound guidance when needed.
• Assists in providing training and supervision of the ultrasound equipment, diagnostic image acquisition and interpretation of echocardiograms and vascular studies to the cardiologists, cardiology fellows, sonography students as well as fellow physicians, medical residents, medical students and other staff as needed.
• Identifies complex cardiac imaging and diagnostic procedures, i.e. cardiac catheterization, auscultation, electrocardiograms (ECG), myocardial perfusion studies, electrophysiology procedures, i.e. intra-cardiac echocardiography (ICE) and pacemaker optimization, to incorporate results of those procedures and/or studies into imaging goals.
• Manages Vascular Ultrasound and Echocardiography images in Centricity, GE, Philips(other software packages) and copy to CD.
• Effectively operates GE and/or Philip Ultrasound and FLOLAB Machines and assist in evaluation of new equipment and make recommendations resulting in improved diagnostic quality and increased efficiency in collection and analysis of cardiac ultrasound data.

Performs other duties as assigned in the noninvasive department.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm. Tour of duty subject to change based on agency needs.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Certification: Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) is highly desirable. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level.
• Physical Requirements: Must pass pre-employment physical exam.
• English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technician must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Preferred Experience: 2-3 years of Echocardiograph experience. Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Cardiac Sonographer (RCS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer (RDCS). Basic Cardiac Life Support(BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable.

Grade Determinations: GS-9 At least 1 year experience comparable to the next lower grade level, which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. This would be experience which demonstrates possession of the knowledge required in order to provide all aspects of echocardiography services. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): Examples of GS-8 qualifying experience include: 1 . Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode, two-dimensional, pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectral display, and colorflow Doppler imaging.2. Knowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases. 3. Ability to perform complex procedures such as cardiac studies of the four chambers of the heart andvalves using sector scanning techniques to detect stenotic and incompetent valves, chamber enlargement, and pericardial effusion and cardiovascular studies deriving pressure gradients across obstructed valves, etc. 4. Ability to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) transthoracic, Bubble studies and contrast echocardiography, (invasive) stress echocardiography, and transesophageal echocardiography. 5. Ability to adapt transducer positioning, instrument controls, and examination techniques to the individual patient being studied and the problem being evaluated including recognizing pertinent abnormalities and documenting abnormal findings.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. KSAs 1, 2, and 3 are appropriate for all positions at this level.

1. Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures, to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects, and to write policies, procedures, and protocols, that pertain to Echocardiography.

*2. Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.

3. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.

References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G27, Medical Instrument Technician Qualification Standards, dated June 7, 2012.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-09.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (45 pounds and over); Moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), Straight pulling (1 hour), Reaching above shoulder, use of fingers; both hands required; walking (4 hours) standing (6 hours); Repeated bending (1 hour), both legs required; Ability to rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, Near vision correctable to 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; depth perception, ability to distinguish basis colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; mental and emotional stability.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.